Bat Facts Bat Conservation International Many kids and teachers are already familiar with Stellaluna, the young fruit bat from the enchanting children's book by Janell Cannon, but teachers may also want to visit this great Teachers Page if they're doing bat units for Earth fairs or Halloween. Here is a Kids' Page and here is a link to the Save Lucy Club , where kids can help protect North American bats. A single little brown bat (myotis) can eat up to 1000 mosquitoes in a single hour, and is one of the world's longest-lived mammals for its size, with life spans of almost 40 years. Bats are more closely related to humans and other primates than they are to rodents. Several studies indicate that the Old World fruit bats and flying foxes may actually be descended from early primates such as lemurs. There are over 1200 known species of bats, just about 25% of all mammal species. Most of these bats are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Orphaned Fruit Bat Pup Bat World Sanctuary Most bat moms give birth to only a single pup each year, making them very vulnerable to extinction.

Bats are the slowest reproducing mammals on earth for their size. Contrary to popular myths, most bats have very good eyesight, have excellent echolocation so they do not become entangled in human hair, and seldom transmit disease to other animals or humans. The world's smallest mammal is the bumblebee bat of Thailand which weighs about as much as a dime and is critically endangered due to habitat loss. Giant flying foxes (fruit bats) that live in Indonesia have wingspans of nearly six feet. Bats are very clean animals, and groom themselves almost constantly (when not eating or sleeping) to keep their fur soft and clean, like tiny cats. The pallid bat of western North America is totally immune to the stings of the scorpions and centipedes upon which it feeds. Mexican Free-tailed Bat Bat World Sanctuary The 30 million Mexican free-tailed bats from Bracken Cave in Texas eat 250 TONS of insects every summer night. They sometimes fly up to two miles high to feed or to catch tailwinds that carry them over long distances, and can fly at speeds of more than 60 miles per hour.

These Mexican free-tailed bat mothers can find and nurse their own young, even in huge colonies where many millions of pups cluster at up to 500 per square foot. The youngsters can be as curious and playful as many other animal babies. A single colony of 150 big brown bats can protect local farmers from up to 33 million or more rootworms each summer. A nursing little brown bat mother can eat more than her body weight nightly (up to 4,500 insects). Many important agricultural plants, like bananas, peaches, bread-fruit, mangoes, cashews, almonds, dates and figs rely on bats for pollination and seed dispersal. Tequila is produced from agave plants whose seed production drops to 1/3000th of normal without bat pollinators, such as the Mexican long-tongued bat . Hoary Bat Photo courtesy of Dick Wilkins Hoary bats are the most widely distributed bat in the Americas, ranging from northern Canada all the way down into South America, and there is even an endangered sub-species found out in the Hawaiian Islands.

Vampire bats adopt orphans, and are one of the few mammals known to risk their own lives to share food with less fortunate roost-mates. An anticoagulant derived from vampire bat saliva is now used to treat human heart patients and stroke victims. All mammals can contract rabies; however, even the less than half of 1% of bats that do, normally bite only in self-defense and pose little threat to people who do not handle them. Nearly 40% of American bat species are in severe decline or already listed as endangered or threatened. Losses are occurring at alarming rates worldwide. Providing bat houses can help build the populations of many valuable bat species that eat many crop-damaging insects, such as cucumber and June beetles, stink bugs, leafhoppers and corn worm moths. Bat houses furnish places for bats to roost, hibernate and raise young, in addition to the dwindling number of natural sites available to them. Red bats , which live in tree foliage throughout most of North America, can withstand body temperatures as low as 23 degrees during winter hibernation.

Honduran White Bats Bat Conservation International Little brown bats can reduce their heart rate to 20 beats per minute and can stop breathing altogether for 48 minutes at a time while hibernating. They may hibernate for more than seven months if left undisturbed, but can starve if they are awakened too many times during the winter, which causes them to run out of energy reserves before spring. Tiny woolly bats of West Africa live in the large webs of colonial spiders. The Honduran white bat is snow white with a yellow nose and ears. It cuts large leaves to make "tents" that protect its small colonies from jungle rains, one of 15 other species known to make tents. Frog eating bats identify edible from poisonous frogs by listening to the mating calls of male frogs. Frogs counter by hiding and using short, difficult-to-locate calls. Moths are also known to take evasive action when they hear the echolocation calls of bats, sometimes plummeting to the ground in an attempt to escape.

Indian Flying Fox Bat Conservation International Male Gambian epauletted bats of Africa have pouches in their shoulders that contain large, showy patches of white fur, which they flash during courtship to attract mates. The Chapin's free-tailed bats have big tufts of white fur on top of their heads, which they fluff up during courtship. Bat droppings in caves support whole ecosystems of unique organisms, including bacteria useful in detoxifying wastes, improving detergents, and producing gasohol and antibiotics. African heart-nosed bats can hear the footsteps of a beetle walking on sand from a distance of more than six feet. Fishing bats have echolocation so sophisticated that they can detect a minnow's fin as fine as a human hair protruding only two millimeters above a pond's surface. Desert ecosystems rely on nectar-feeding bats as primary pollinators of giant cacti, including the famous organ pipe and saguaro of Arizona. ALL ABOUT BATS Website: #1 BAT Info Site Online! 2 Chamber Bat House $24.95 Place our Bat Houses near your home to attract hungry pest-eating bats.

Bats consume mosquitoes, grasshoppers, moths, flies, crickets, gnats and even fruit flies. A single brown bat can eat up to 600 mosquitoes in one hour! Our bat house is 5"x6"x12" and has 3 chambers. The interior chamber surfaces are deeply grooved wood, creating an excellent clinging surface for roosting bats. Holds up to 125 bats. Animals > Bats > All About Bats BATS Often mistaken for birds and as with most mysterious creatures, associated with a lot of misconceptions, superstition and of course, evil, bats are ordinary mammals made extraordinary by being the only mammal capable of true flight. Bats, also known as flying foxes, belong to the Chiroptera order, the second largest group of mammals. Around 1100 species bats have been reported worldwide and since they prefer warm climate, they don’t normally make their homes north or south of the sub-tropics. First, let’s deal with the myths…bats are not bad…although we just called them Bad Airborne Tropical Species. They are just one of Nature’s best creations yet.

Amazing, mysterious and in so many ways the most efficient survivor in the world’s ecosystems. Their teeth are not different from that of a cat…or a dog, or our own…best suited to their diet. You might wonder why they have such sharp teeth when they eat on fruit…but ask yourself this…were you able to eat an apple by yourself when you were 2 years old? No…because your jaws did not have the strength to crush the apple to chew on them. Instead if you had sharp teeth, you would easily be able to take a bite even if you were as small as a bat. Thirdly, bats being associated with the devil and all that is nothing but rubbish…they are just one of the most beautiful and intriguing and by and far, the most misunderstood animals that belong to planet Earth. So what are bats? Mammals or Birds Good question…and a question that every single child and adult would ask if they have not attended, or paid attention in high school. Well, they fly, so they should be birds…but they give birth to their young and suckle them with their mammary glands…so they should be mammals right? True.

But there are other mammals like the Duck Billed Platypus which lay eggs – Oviparous Mammals. So how do we really classify bats as mammals? Mammals are identified not merely by the presence of mammary glands or by being Viviparous or animals that give birth to their offspring. They are identified by External Ears or Pinnae. If you notice, Fishes or Pisces, have the Lateral Line Sense Organ that senses vibration in the water. Amphibians have the Tympanic membrane that senses sound. Reptiles, either have the tympanic membrane or like snakes , completely do away with hearing and focus on ground vibrations. In birds or Aves, the tympanic membrane is located in a recess with a tube that connects it to the surface of their body. However, Mammals and all of them have pronounced external ears called Pinnae Hair on the body: Yes, Bats have hair and it is nothing like the furry legs of the tarantula or any other non-mammalian species that may have hair on their legs.

This is a typical characteristic of all mammals, which distinguishes the Bat from its avian counterparts The presence of mammary glands: All mammals have a specially modified set of sweat glands called mammary glands that in the females, produce milk that the offspring nurse on before they are weaned to their normal diet. Bats being mammals have these glands and they suckle their young ones as humans and other mammals do. They need their habitat and they need warm climates to survive and many of the bat species are vulnerable to extinction due to deforestation, habitat loss, and excessive use of insecticides. Providing bats with bat houses can help to control the population decline by arranging areas for them to roost, hibernate and raise their young pups. Wouldn’t you be proud to say you saved 1 family of bats by building a small bat house in your back yard? After all they are such amazing animals and it would be a shame to lose them. Our articles are free for you to copy and distribute. Make sure to give credit for the article. Pallid Bat Pallid Bat Distribution, Abundance, and Seasonality DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SEASONALlTY The pallid bat is a locally common species of low elevations in California.

It occurs throughout California except for the high Sierra Nevada from Shasta to Kern cos., and the northwestern corner of the state from Del Norte and western Siskiyou cos. to northern Mendocino Co. A wide variety of habitats is occupied, including grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, and forests from sea level up through mixed conifer forests. The species is most common in open, dry habitats with rocky areas for roosting. A yearlong resident in most of the range. Range Map Specific Habitat Requirements Feeding: Takes a wide variety of insects and arachnids, including beetles, orthopterans, homopterans, moths, spiders, scorpions, solpugids, and Jerusalem crickets. The stout skull and dentition of this species allows it to take large, hard-shelled prey. Forages over open ground, usually 0.5-2.5 m (1.6-8 ft) above ground level. Foraging flight is slow and maneuverable with frequent dips, swoops, and short glides. Many prey are taken on the ground. Gleaning is frequently used, and a few prey are taken aerially. Can maneuver well on the ground.

May carry large prey to a perch or night roost for consumption. Ingestion of fruit in one study (Howell 1980) was a result of feeding on frugivorous moths. Uses echolocation for obstacle avoidance; possibly utilizes prey-produced sounds while foraging. Cover: Day roosts are in caves, crevices, mines, and occasionally in hollow trees and buildings. Roost must protect bats from high temperatures. Bats move deeper into cover if temperatures rise. Night roosts may be in more open sites, such as porches and open buildings. Few hibernation sites are known, but probably uses rock crevices. Reproduction: Maternity colonies form in early April, and may have a dozen to 100 individuals. Males may roost separately or in the nursery colony. Water: Needs water, but has a good urine-concentrating ability (Geluso 1978). Pattern: Prefers rocky outcrops, cliffs, and crevices with access to open habitats for foraging. Species Life History Activity Patterns: Nocturnal. Hibernates.

Emerges late (30-60 min after sunset), with a major activity peak 90-190 min after sunset, and a second peak shortly before dawn. Briefer foraging periods occur in autumn, and activity is infrequent below 2ï¿½C (35ï¿½F). Undergoes shallow torpor daily. Hibernates in winter near the summer day roost (Hermanson and O'Shea 1983). Seasonal Movements / Migration: Makes local movements to hibernation sites. There is a post-breeding season dispersal. Home Range: Forages 0.5-2.5 km (1-3 mi) from day roost. Capable of homing from distances of a few miles, but not further. Territory: Social. Most pallid bats (95%) roost in groups of 20, or more, ranging to 162. Group size is important for metabolic economy and growth of young. Young animals occupy the center of clusters. Individuals out of clusters experience higher rates of weight loss (Trune and Slobodchikoff 1976,1978).

Reproduction: Mates from late October-February. Fertilization is delayed, gestation is 53-71 days. Young are born from April-July, mostly from May-June. The average litter is 2, but females reproducing for the first time usually have 1 young. Litter size is 1-3. The altricial young are weaned in 7 wk, and are observed flying in July and August. Females nurse only their own young. Females and juveniles forage together after weaning. Females mate in first autumn, males in second. Maximum recorded longevity is 9 yr,1 mo (Cockrum 1973). Niche: This slow-flying, maneuverable species is adapted to feed on large, hard-shelled prey on the ground or in foliage. It is known to roost with a number of other bats, principally Myotis spp. and Tadarida brasiliensis. Owls and snakes are known predators. Comments: Very sensitive to disturbance of roosting sites. Such sites are essential for metabolic economy, juvenile growth and as night roosts to consume prey.

Sources & References California Department of Fish and Game, 1999. California's Wildlife, Sacramento, CA. Written by: J. Harris, reviewed by: P. Brown, edited by: D. Alley, R. Duke Barbour, R. W., and W. H. Davis. 1969. Bats of America. Univ. of Kentucky Press, Lexington. 286pp. Beck, A. J., and R. L. Rudd. 1960. Nursery colonies in the pallid bat. J. Mammal. 41:266-267. Black, H. L. 1974. A north temperate bat community: structure and prey populations. J. Mammal. 55:138-157. Brown, P. E. 1976. Vocal communication in the pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus. Zeit. Tierpsychol. 41:34-54. Cockrum, E. L. 1973. Additional longevity records for American bats. J. Ariz. Acad. Sci.

8:108-110. Cockrum. E. L., and S. P. Cross. 1964. Time of bat activity over waterholes. J. Mammal. 45:635-636. Davis, R. 1966. Homing performance and homing ability in bats. Ecol. Monogr. 36:201-237. Davis, R. 1969a. Growth and development of young pallid bats, Antrozous pallidus. J. Mammal. 50:729-736. Davis, R. 1969b. Wing loading in pallid bats. J. Mammal. 50:140-144. Dietz, C. L. 1973. Bat walking behavior. J. Mammal. 54:790-792. Easterla, D. A., and J. O. Whitaker, Jr. 1972. Food habits of some bats from Big Bend National Park, Texas. J. Mammal.

53:997-890. Engler, C. H. 1943. Carnivorous activities of big brown and pallid bats. J. Mammal. 24:196-197. Findley, J. S., A. H. Harris, D. E. Wilson, and C. Jones. 1975. Mammals of New Mexico. Univ. New Mexico Press. Albuquerque. 360pp. Freeman, P. W. 1981. Correspondence of food habits and morphology in insectivorous bats. J. Mammal. 62:166-173. Geluso, K. N. 1978. Urine concentrating ability and renal structure of insectivorous bats. J. Mammal. 59:312-323. Hatt, R. T. 1923. Food habits of the Pacific pallid bat. J. Mammal. 4:260-261. Hermanson, J. W., and T. J. O'Shea. 1983.

Antrozous pallidus. Mammal. Species No. 213. 8pp. Howell, D. J. 1980. Adaptive variation in diets of desert bats has implications for evolution of feeding strategies. J. Mammal. 61:730-733. Huey, L. M. 1936. Desert pallid bats caught in mouse traps. J. Mammal. 17:285-286. Licht, P., and P. Leitner. 1967. Behavioral responses to high temperatures in three species of California bats. J. Mammal. 48:52-61. O'Farrell, M. J., and W. G. Bradley. 1970. Activity patterns of bats over a desert spring. J. Mammal. 51:18-26. O'Farrell, M. J., W. G. Bradley, and G. W. Jones. 1967. Fall and winter bat activity at a desert spring in southern Nevada. Southwest. Nat. 12:163-171.

O'Shea, T. J., and T. A. Vaughan. 1977. Nocturnal and seasonal activities of the pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus. J. Mammal. 58:269-284. Orr, R. T. 1954. Natural history of the pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus (Le Conte). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 18:165-246. Ross, A. 1961. Notes on food habits of bats. J. Mammal. 42:66-71. Ross, A. 1967. Ecological aspects of the food habits of insectivorous bats. Proc. West. Found. Vertebr. Zool. 1:205-264. Trune, D. R., and C. N. Slobodchikoff. 1976. Social effects of roosting on the metabolism of the pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus). J. Mammal. 57:656-663. Trune, D.

R., and C. N. Slobodchikoff. 1978. Position of immatures in pallid bat clusters: a case of reciprocal altruism? J. Mammal. 59:193-195. Vaughan, T. A., and T. J. O'Shea. 1976. Roosting ecology of the pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus. J. Mammal. 57:19-42. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., C. Maser, and L. E. Keller. 1977. Food habits of bats of western Oregon. Northwest Sci. 51:46-55. ODFW, Oregon Wildlife Species: Bats Oregon Wildlife Species -Photo by Michael Durham- California Myotis Myotis californicus California myotis is an acrobatic flyer. It is dark brown to blond with dark ears. It eats moths and flies. Early in the summer, a female joins a maternity or nursery colony where she gives birth to one offspring. In winter, these bats roost in mines, caves and buildings. All Oregon’s bats eat only insects.

In Oregon the California Myotis bat is found throughout the state except for the Columbia Basin. Western Small-footed Myotis -Photo by Michael Durham- Western Small-footed Myotis Myotis ciliolabrum The Western Small-footed Myotis is among the smaller bats in Oregon and is brown to pale yellow with black ears and a black mask across its eyes and nose. It lives in dry climates, especially cliffs and rocks, and forages back and forth along the face of cliffs. It hibernates in caves and mines from November through February. In Oregon, the species only occurs east of the Cascade Range. Western long-eared myotis -Photo by Michael Durham- Western Long-eared Myotis Myotis evotis The long-eared myotis is pale brown to strawberry. It is a slow flier and hovers around trees and rocks to catch flies, moths and wasps. It is primarily a bat of coniferous forests in much of Oregon but may occur far from trees in shrub-steppe regions of the state. It forages in openings in dense forest, between the trees beneath the canopy in ponderosa pine, and over willow-bordered creeks.

The species is known to enter dwellings and other buildings through open windows and doors, and to forage on moths therein. The Long-eared Myotis often day roosts in buildings, but may use many other natural and man-made structures including caves and mines, bridges, hollow trees and loose bark on trees, and fissures in rock outcrops. In Oregon the Western Long-eared Myotis is found throughout the state. Little Brown Bat -Photo by Michael Durham- Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus This bat is commonly found in attics and buildings during summer months in maternity colonies. It weighs about half an ounce and has a wingspan of 9 to 11 inches. It prefers to live in forests near water. One baby is born in spring or summer. In winter, this bat hibernates in caves. The little brown bat occurs throughout Oregon in a wide variety of habitats, but seems especially prone to establish residence near a lake, pond, or stream. Fringed Myotis -Photo by Michael Durham- Fringed Myotis Myotis thysanodes This bat is brown to reddish brown and has relatively long forearms.

It gets its name from the fringe of hairs along the bottom of its tail. It roosts in trees, snags, buildings, caves, rocks, cliffs and bridges. It likes beetles and moths but will eat spiders and crickets. The Fringed Myotis occurs in the Coast Range from Jackson County to Clatsop County and in the northeastern corner of the state. Long-legged Myotis -Photo by Michael Durham- Long-legged Myotis Myotis volans The long-legged bat lives in forests and comes out early in the evening to hunt. It is a fast flier and will chase insects for a long distance. One baby is born in the summer, and the species hibernates in winter. In general, the Long-legged Myotis is a species associated with Montane coniferous forests, but it also occurs in some desert and riparian habitats. Yuma Myotis -Photo by Michael Durham- Yuma Myotis Myotis yumanensis Yuma myotis emerges when it is almost dark and forages for insects over streams and ponds. This bat is gray, tan or brown; it lives in a variety of habitats.

Large numbers of female bats gather together in May or June to have their young. In autumn, they migrate. In Oregon, the Yuma Myotis is found throughout the state and is associated more closely with water than any other North American species of bat. Hoary Bat -Photo by Michael Durham- Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus The hoary bat has a wingspan of nearly 16 inches. It has dark fur tipped with white, a dark mask on its face, a yellow-orange throat and round ears edged in black. This bat roosts in branches of trees and likes to feed around outdoor lights. Hoary bats migrate south in winter, returning to Oregon in the spring. This bat usually bears twins. In Oregon, Hoary Bats are found at scattered localities over most of the region west of the Cascade Range and in montane regions east of the Cascade Range. Silver-haired Bat -Photo by Michael Durham- Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans This bat, found in older forests, has a wingspan of about 10 inches. Its fur is glossy black, tipped with white.

It forages over ponds, streams, meadows and roads, often flying very low and roosting behind loose tree bark. Maternity roosts of the silver-haired bat are found in trees. This bat usually bears twins. The Silver-haired Bat occurs statewide in Oregon except for most of the Columbia Basin. It is primarily associated with coniferous forests, including the juniper woodlands in the southeastern portion of the state. It sometimes occurs in mixed deciduous-coniferous forest, and during migrations in May and September it occurs in rangelands where it forages along small streams. Canyon Bat -Photo by Michael Durham- Canyon Bat Parastrellus hesperus This species weighs less than one quarter of an ounce! Its fur is pale yellow to brownish gray with a dark face mask. It likes rocky canyons and outcrops and flies early in the evening when it feeds on swarms of flying insects. They Canyon Bat is found in Eastern Oregon. Big Brown Bat -Photo by Michael Durham- Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus This is a relatively large bat, with a wingspan of 13 to 14 inches. Its dark color and slow flight help with identification.

It is more likely to be active in cold weather than other bats, and prefers human structures for roosting. In Oregon the Big Brown Bat occurs throughout the state. In eastern Oregon this bat forages over the forest canopy, along roads through the trees, along the forest edge, over forest clearings, and along cliffs and canyon streams. In western Oregon, the species is usually associated with coniferous and deciduous forests. Spotted Bat Spotted bats are rare in North America. They are white underneath with dark fur on their back and with large white spots. They live in dry climates and often roost on high cliffs. The Spotted Bat is found in Eastern Oregon. Townsend's Big-eared Bat -Photo by Michael Durham- Townsend's Big-eared Bat Corynorhinus townsendii This is a medium-sized bat with large, long ears. It is gray, brown, or black. It is generally active only after full darkness. This species is very vulnerable to human disturbance and its numbers are declining. In Oregon, it is classified as a State Sensitive Species. Never disturb this bat if you are in a cave. It is found throughout much of Oregon.

Pallid Bat Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) TPWD © Protection Status Notes A. pallidus is not listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It has undergone a major decline in some areas, especially in coastal California, however, its status and population trends in Texas are unknown. Description Antrozous pallidus is a large (forearm 48‑60 mm), pale bat with large ears, blunt snout (with ridge across the top), and a distinctive skunk‑like odor. Life History Pallid bats are gregarious, and often roost in colonies of between 20 and several hundred individuals. Pregnant females gather in summer maternity colonies within warm rock crevices, abandoned mines, caves, hollow trees and in cavern‑like building features (e.g. attics). Copulation takes place between October and February, with parturition generally occurring between May and July depending on local climatic variables. Females can give birth to a single pup, twins and sometimes triplets, with twins being most common. Young are generally weaned in mid to late August. Maternity colonies disband between August and October.

The bats are relatively inactive during the winter. They are not known to migrate, and are believed to hibernate as solitary individuals or in small numbers. Occasional winter activity has been reported in southern portions of its range. Pallid bats roost in rock crevices, tree hollows, mines, caves, and a variety of anthropogenic structures, including vacant and occupied buildings. Tree roosting has been documented in large conifer snags (e.g. ponderosa pine), inside basal hollows of redwoods and giant sequoias, and bole cavities in oaks. They have also been reported roosting in stacks of burlap sacks and stone piles. They are primarily insectivorous, feeding on large prey that are taken on the ground, or sometimes in flight. Prey items also include flightless arthropods such as scorpions, ground crickets, and cicadas. Distribution A. pallidus is distributed from southern British Columbia and Montana to central Mexico, and east to Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. An isolated population also occurs on Cuba. A. pallidus occurs in a number of habitats ranging form rocky arid deserts to grasslands into higher elevation coniferous forests.

They are most abundant in the arid Sonoran life zones below 6,000 feet, but have been found up to 10,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada. The pallid bat is a common resident of the western one-half of Texas where two distinct races are known: A. p. bunkeri in the northern Panhandle and A. p. pallidus in the west and south. Threats and Reasons for Decline Use of mines places this species in jeopardy with regards to mine closure projects. Additional threats include human vandalism within roost sites, roost site destruction, extermination in buildings and pesticide use. Loss of tree roosts could occur through commercial timber harvest (including selective hardwood removal), and loss of oaks to suburban expansion, and/or vineyard development. Ongoing Recovery Pallid bats consume large numbers of a wide variety of crop pests, and in areas where they are still abundant, must have substantial economic, as well as ecological impact. Since pallid bats often live in buildings, human harassment and needless killing rank among their greatest threats.

Those that cause a nuisance by night roosting in open porches often can be persuaded to leave for several months at a time by spraying roosting surfaces with squirrel or dog repellent. They can be excluded from day-roosting in buildings, though their small colonies do not often cause substantial nuisances and may, in many cases, be worth tolerating. Other Data is lacking regarding seasonal movements (it is currently believed that they do not migrate long distances between summer and wintering sites). Additional information is required regarding winter activity patterns (i.e. roost sites, activity levels etc.). More information is needed on roosting requirements in natural roosts (e.g. rock crevices and tree hollows). For more information Additional details can be found in the online version of The Mammals of Texas Pallid Bat Fact Sheet Animal Fact Sheet: Pallid bat Identifying Features The Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) has yellowish brown to cream colored fur on its back and white fur on its belly. What is most noticeable about this bat are its large ears. The ears are almost half as long as the total length of its head and body. Also, its eyes are larger than most species of North American bats.

Migration/Hibernation Pallid bats do not appear to migrate any great distance as the seasons change. They will break into smaller groups and hibernate deep within crevices in canyon walls, in buildings or deep in caves where the temperature is more constant. Habitat The pallid bat is can be found found in arid regions with rocky outcroppings, to open, sparsely vegetated grasslands. Water must be available close by to all sites. They typically will use three different types of roosts. A day roost which can be a warm, horizontal opening such as in attics, shutters or crevices; the night roost is in the open, but with foliage nearby; and the hibernation roost mentioned above, which is often in buildings, caves, or cracks in rocks. Range They occur in arid and semi-arid regions across much of the American west, up and down the coast from Canada and Mexico. A few isolated colonies have been found in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Wild Status Throughout it's range the pallid bat is considered a common species. There is some concern for this and all bats as they are sensitive to human encroachment.

Human disturbance of roosting areas and pesticide use are of increasing concern. Diet Pallid bats will eat a variety of prey items. These can include crickets, scorpions, centipedes, ground beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, praying mantis and long-horned beetles. They have been known to eat lizards and rodents. What is unique to the pallid bat is that it catches its food almost exclusively on the ground as opposed to while in flight. After catching its prey it will fly to a convenient location to consume its meal. Predators Because they capture their prey on the ground they are susceptible to predators on the ground. These can include cats, fox, racoon, snakes, coyotes and frogs. Owls also prey upon them while in flight. Reproduction Maternity colonies are rather small in size, ranging from 20-100 animals. Mating takes place in the fall resulting in usually two babies being born in the late spring. The pups begin to fly within five to six weeks. Life Span The pallid bat may live as many as10 years in the wild.

Size Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition Pallid Bat Order Chiroptera : Family Vespertilionidae : Antrozous pallidus (Le Conte) Description. A rather large, pale, yellowish-brown bat. Ears about 2.5 cm long, broad, naked, and crossed by nine or 11 transverse lines; bases of hairs light (nearly white), tips dusky; large light spot between shoulders; underparts paler and lacking dusky-tipped hairs; membranes nearly naked and brownish; nostrils surrounded by a glandular ridge producing a blunt snout; feet relatively large and strong. Dental formula: I 1/2, C 1/1, Pm 1/2, M 3/3 X 2 = 28. External measurements average: total length, 113 mm; tail, 46 mm; foot, 12 mm; ear, 28 mm; forearm, 48 mm. Weight, 12-17 g. Distribution in Texas. A common resident of the western one-half of Texas where two distinct races are known: A.

p. bunkeri in the northern Panhandle and A. p. pallidus in the west and south. Habits. Pallid bats inhabit rocky, outcrop areas where they commonly roost in rock crevices, caves, and mine tunnels but they also roost in the attics of houses, under the eaves of barns, behind signs, in hollow trees, and in abandoned adobe buildings. Colonies are usually small and may contain 12-100 bats. Pallid bats usually appear on the wing relatively late at night, well after dark. The species is probably migratory although occasional individuals have been reported from the United States in winter. Their feeding habits are unlike those of most American bats. For years naturalists have noted the kitchen middens of discarded wings and other hard parts of insects under their "feeding roosts." Among them were remains of Jerusalem crickets, scorpions, and other flightless arthropods, although their diet also includes flying insects. To some extent though, pallid bats are terrestrial foragers. They have been observed flying, apparently at random, over an area at levels of 15-90 cm above the ground.

When prey is located, presumably by sight, the bat abruptly drops to the ground, searches briefly, grabs its victim in its mouth, and takes off. Captured prey is taken to a feeding station where it is consumed. A. E. Borell described how one of these bats consumed a grasshopper. While eating, the bat hung head upward, supported by the thumbs, with the wings partly spread. The legs held the posterior part of the body well out from the timber and with the tail curved forward against it; the interfemoral membrane formed a pouch to catch parts of the large insect as they dropped. Other than the items mentioned above, pallid bats also eat moths, froghoppers and leafhoppers, June beetles, and grasshoppers. In fact, 54 different types of prey have been documented for the pallid bat. Large, night-flying insects and ground-dwelling arthropods are most prevalent in the diet, however. Mating occurs in fall with parturition in early summer. Females may carry one to four embryos but the birth of twins is usual. The length of gestation is 53-71 days.

In Texas, the baby bats are born in early May to mid-June. Newborn bats weigh approximately 3 g and seem to develop more slowly than other species. The eyes open at 8-10 days of age, hair is evident at 10 days, and the young are volant by 6 weeks of age. Young bats have been found to contain both milk and insect remains in their stomachs, indicating that the young continue to nurse after becoming volant. Photo credit: Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International. This page is copyrighted �1994 by Texas Parks and Wildlife, Nongame and Urban Program. All rights reserved. Used in this online edition with permission. Page maintenance by the Natural Science Research Laboratory at Texas Tech University. Last updated on 24 December 1997. Contact address: webmaster@packrat.musm.ttu.edu . Bats Northwest Bats Northwest How many kinds of bats are there? How big do bats get? What is the smallest bat? What do bats eat ? Do we have vampire bats? How many kinds of bats do we have in the Pacific Northwest ? Do bats get tangled in your hair ? Are bats really blind ? Will bats suck your blood ?

How and why do bats roost upside down? How do bats catch insects in the dark ? What threats do bats have? What are bats good for? Answers How many kinds of bats are there? There are more than 1100 species of bats in the world. Of these, about 200 are Megachiroptera, the large Old World "flying foxes" from Africa, Asia and the South Pacific. The remaining 900+ species are the Microchiroptera which are found worldwide except in the most extreme climates. Back to Top . How big do bats get? What is the smallest bat? Bats range in size from about 1 inch to about 1 foot from head to toe. The largest bats are the Old World fruit bats, some of which are over a foot long with a wingspan of 5-6 feet. The smallest is Kitti's Hog-nosed Bat, also called the Bumblebee Bat, which lives in Thailand and weighs less than a penny. Back to Top . What do bats eat? Bats eat a wide variety of things. Most eat some kind of insect or other invertebrate.

Some eat larger prey such as small mice, lizards and even other bats. Some eat only fruit and pollen. A few species have become very specialized such as the fish-eating bat and the frog-eating bat. Probably the most specialized of all are the three species of true vampire bats that eat only blood. Back to Top . All the bats of Washington and the Pacific Northwest eat invertebrates, mostly insects. They consume huge amounts, many of which we consider pest species because of the damage they do to our gardens, crops, and forests. A couple of our bats can eat larger prey. Pallid bats are known to eat scorpions and hoary bats are reported to eat small rodents or even other bats. Back to Top . Do we have vampire bats? No. Thousands of years ago there were species of vampires living in North America. But today they do not range further north than Mexico. The only vampire bats in the Pacific Northwest are in the zoo. Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle houses a small colony in their Nocturnal House, and they are well worth visiting. Back to Top . How many kinds of bats do we have in the Pacific Northwest? There are about fifteen species of bats found in Washington.

These are the: Big Brown Bat, Western Pipistrelle, Silver-haired Bat, Spotted Bat, Townsend's Big-eared Bat, Pallid Bat, Hoary Bat, and seven Myotis or mouse-eared bats including the Little Brown Myotis, Yuma Myotis, California Myotis, Keen's Myotis, Long-eared Myotis, Long-legged Myotis, Fringed Myotis and Small-footed Myotis. The Western Red Bat is sometimes included on species lists but has not been confirmed for Washington. The Brazilian Free-tailed Bat is extending its range north and is now found in southern Oregon. Back to Top . Do bats get tangled in your hair? No. Bats navigate by echolocation or biosonar which is so sensitive they are capable of tracking the tiniest insect in total darkness. They can "see" a human with no problem at all. But bats do occasionally fly close to people while they are hunting. A possible reason is that the carbon dioxide that people exhale attracts mosquitoes, and the bats may be chasing them. Back to Top . Are bats really blind? No. All bat species have eyes and some have excellent eyesight.

The Megachiroptera or "Old World" fruit bats rely totally on their eyesight to find food and most of these bats do not even have echolocation. Bats that hunt moving prey at night usually rely on their echolocation abilities but they still can see. Back to Top . Are bats flying mice? No. Because many bats are mouse-sized, gray and furry, people hundreds of years ago assumed they were related and often named them accordingly (i.e. Fledermaus in German). But taxonomically bats are more closely related to people than to mice. There are fossils of bats dating back to about 55 million years ago - bats complete with echolocation and very similar to the ones we know today. Rodents didn't evolve until about 25 million years ago. A look at lifestyle also points out the differences between bats and rodents. Mice will live a couple years producing large litters of babies every few weeks. Bats usually only have one baby a year but may live to be over thirty! Back to Top . Will bats suck your blood? No. Not even vampires "suck" blood. There are only three species of bats in the world that live on blood.

These vampire bats all live in Central and South America. One kind prefers birds to mammals, and even the Common Vampire Bat prefers cows, sheep, pigs and horses over humans. If you were in an area inhabited by vampires and slept in the open, you could be bitten by a vampire bat. But the process is very different from the movies about Count Dracula. They would probably bite your toe or maybe your ear, not your neck. First they would lick the area, and then make a quick incision with their very sharp front teeth. Their saliva contains an anticoagulant that keeps the blood flowing and they lick it up rather than suck it. They take about one tablespoon and then leave, barely able to fly from the added weight. The danger to you? Not loss of blood but rabies, or another disease, passed to you from a previous victim. Back to Top . How and why do bats roost upside down? Bats have toes that lock in place when supporting their weight. They also have adaptations in their circulatory system that make the "upside-down" position possible. We can only guess at why. It does seem to give them access to very safe roosts such as the roofs of caves.

It is also much easier to land under something than on top of something, which requires balance. And it is easy to take off from under a perch. All the bat needs to do is spread its wings and let go. Back to Top . How do bats catch insects in the dark? Most bats have the ability to echolocate. They do this by emitting high frequency sounds and then using the echoes to determine what is in front of them, a sort of biological sonar. This ability is found in the Microchiroptera, (the small bats that inhabit most of the world), and in a rudimentary way in three species of the Megachiroptera, (the large fruit bats of Africa, Asia and the South Pacific). Bat echolocation can be extremely refined. Bats can vary their calls to determine size, distance, direction of movement, etc. of the insects they hunt. Some bats are able to distinguish the "Doppler Effect" from the wingbeats of a moth or detect something as fine as a human hair.

Part of this ability is the acute hearing of these bats and some bats use only this sense -- listening for the footsteps of an insect in foliage or for the sound of a fish's fin breaking the surface, to find their prey. Echolocation calls vary by the species of bat and where it hunts. Most calls are well above our range of hearing, but a few are audible to us. One Washington bat, the Spotted Bat, is often recognized by its distinct and audible call. It hunts large prey in open spaces where low calls travel farther and are less detectible to the moths it hunts. Back to Top . What threats do bats have? The biggest threat is now humans who either destroy bat habitat or, through ignorance, kill them outright. Bat predators include snakes, birds of prey, and small mammals, but historically, these animals probably affected bat populations less than weather. Storms can kill numbers of bats during migrations and long winters can kill even more. Currently humans are considered the biggest threat to bat populations because we can affect huge numbers by altering or destroying cave systems or cutting down old growth forests. Unfortunately our customs and folklore often depict bats as evil creatures, giving some people the excuse to go out of their way to kill them in creative ways.

Back to Top . What are bats good for? Bats are a vital part of the ecosystems in which they live. Many are considered "keystone species" because so many other plants and animals depend on them for survival. In each ecosystem that bats inhabit, they play an important part. Fruit-eating bats disperse the seeds of plants critical to habitats such as the deserts of the American Southwest and tropical rainforests. They are increasingly important in natural reforestation of cleared or burned areas. Nectar-eating bats pollinate many important plants, in some cases being the only pollinators. Insect-eating bats eat literally tons of insects every night. If we didn't have this natural pest control, we would be overrun with night-flying insects such as moths, beetles, flies and mosquitoes. Bats are important for what they provide as well as what they eat. Bat guano or droppings are one of the world's best fertilizers. And bat guano is also a major source of nutriments for the other life in some cave systems.

We can thank bats for healthier crops and healthier people, for being major contributors to such ecosystems as rainforests, deserts, and cave systems, and for providing numerous items of use to humans such as balsa wood, mangos, carob, figs, tequila, cashews, guavas, bananas, rope fibers and fertilizer. Back to Top . Copyright © 1999-2007 Bats Northwest. All rights reserved. | revised 1/2/2007

Question: 'Pallid', 'Brown' and 'Bumblebee' are species of which mammal?
Answer: BAT